CDC Foundation Earns Highest Rating from Charity Navigator

For the sixth year in a row, the CDC Foundation earned a 4-star rating for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency from Charity Navigator (see the rating). Four stars is the highest rating awarded by Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities. As the independent, nonprofit partner of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CDC Foundation builds strategic partnerships between CDC and corporations, foundations, organizations and individuals to advance CDC's work to protect people from health and safety threats.

“We are proud to receive Charity Navigator's highest rating for the sixth year in a row,” says Charles Stokes, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation. “The rating reflects our commitment to maximize the impact of our donors' contributions as we build partnerships to advance CDC's life-saving work.”

Nationally, only three percent of charities rated by Charity Navigator have received six consecutive 4-star evaluations. According to Charity Navigator, “this exceptional designation…differentiates CDC Foundation from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.” 

“CDC Foundation’s coveted 4-star rating puts it in a very select group of high-performing charities,” according to Ken Berger, president and CEO of Charity Navigator. “The Foundation’s supporters should feel much more confident that their hard-earned dollars are being used efficiently and responsibly when it acquires such a high rating.”

Charities are evaluated on two broad areas of financial health – their organizational efficiency and their organizational capacity. Ratings are based on the financial information provided on IRS Forms 990. During fiscal year 2011, the CDC Foundation spent the majority of its budget, 87.9 percent, on program expenses and only 7.6 on administration and 4.4 percent on fundraising.

As the sole entity authorized by Congress to raise funds for CDC, the CDC Foundation jump starts CDC projects with little or no federal funding by identifying and managing private-sector resources on behalf of CDC.

“Our 4-star rating demonstrates to our supporters that we take our fiduciary and governance responsibilities very seriously,” says Chloe Tonney, CDC Foundation senior vice president for External Affairs. “Assuring accountability and transparency is a key value we offer for our partners.”

About Charity Navigator

Charity Navigator is the largest charity evaluator in America, and its website attracts more visitors than all other charity rating groups combined. Charity Navigator accepts no advertising or donations from the organizations it evaluates, ensuring unbiased evaluations, nor does it charge the public for this trusted data. For more information, please visit www.charitynavigator.org.

About the CDC Foundation

Established by Congress, the CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do more, faster, by forging effective partnerships between CDC and corporations, foundations and individuals to support CDC's 24/7 work to fight threats to health and safety. The CDC Foundation manages approximately 200 CDC-led programs in the United States and in countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.cdcfoundation.org.